NCS transfers Jojef firearms and rifle components recovered at Tincan Port to security authorities for further investigation.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 399 seized rifles and assorted firearm components recovered at the Tincan Island Port Command to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Monday, saying the service had completed the coupling, inventory and detailed examination of the seized arms.
The shipment comprised 399 fully assembled rifles, alongside 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs, 80 charging handles, 39 pistol-grip screws, 34 springs, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips or handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.
Adeniyi warned that criminal networks could attempt to exploit Nigeria’s borders, ports and airports to smuggle prohibited items into the country as the nation approaches another election cycle.
He assured Nigerians that the Customs Service would intensify surveillance and intelligence-led enforcement operations to prevent the movement of illicit arms and other prohibited goods.
The Customs boss said the service would continue working with sister security agencies, including the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), to disrupt arms trafficking networks and protect national security.
Following the completion of the seizure assessment, Adeniyi formally handed over the recovered weapons to the Director-General of the NCCSALW under the Office of the NSA.
He said the two suspects arrested in connection with the shipment had also been taken over by the Office of the NSA for further investigation and prosecution.